Ideas for NYC: Open Letter #6

Dear Zohran Mamdani (Mayor), We have skated, waded, climbed and slid against our will. And that’s those of us able to do so. Others haven’t been as fortunate and are home and/or bruised due to City failure and negligence. This week solidified my belief that mobility training has never been more needed. In the wordsContinue reading “Ideas for NYC: Open Letter #6”

Regaining the Funny Plot

“Every episode of Seinfeld could have been solved with a cell phone […] We used to have miscommunications that couldn’t be corrected instantly. We lived in that chaos and it was funny and we were happier.” Kelly Oxford By: Gabriela Yareliz The wellness online world is fantasizing about going analog. Back in the day, theContinue reading “Regaining the Funny Plot”

Subtraction and Other Kinds of Math

By: Gabriela Yareliz Words I have heard often tied to 2026: “subtraction”, “restraint”, “frugal”— it’s everywhere. Open a Substack, and play a game of bingo for every time one of these words pops up. #trending Allegedly, we need less so we can run with the horse (year of the horse)— whatever the hell that means.Continue reading “Subtraction and Other Kinds of Math”

Podcasts of the Week 9/4/25

By: Gabriela Yareliz Happy Thursday! Given the short week and packed trains (thanks to school restarting), we are all disoriented. I see tiny kids in new outfits and sweaters they will regret later in the warmer parts of the day. There is a woman with a visor that extends at least a foot away fromContinue reading “Podcasts of the Week 9/4/25”

Noise, Despacito

“You need to build a mausoleum in your head with big iron doors so that nobody can get in there except you. You don’t let me in there, you don’t let June in there, you don’t let your manager in there, you don’t let the record company people in there. You have to decide forContinue reading “Noise, Despacito”

—But What is Your Dream?

By: Gabriela Yareliz It was a summer night, and the sun was still shining in the Upper West Side. I was impressed by how bright it was and how tired I felt. I had been looped into a late evening meeting at work and told I could take a car home (which I was gratefulContinue reading “—But What is Your Dream?”

Ideas for NYC: Open Letter #4

Dear Eric Adams (NYC Mayor), We need to discuss the bridges and tunnels. Let’s start with the bridges. The Macy’s Firework Show on July 4th utilized the Brooklyn Bridge nicely. The best part of the show was the American flag waterfalling off of the Brooklyn Bridge. The projections on the Brooklyn Bridge were fun andContinue reading “Ideas for NYC: Open Letter #4”

Views from the Train Seat

By: Gabriela Yareliz Another day, another set of observations from the train and curiosities. A bald tattooed man is deep in his book. He feels the need to read while leaning, full body, into the aisle. He makes faces while he reads like he is performing for us. Like a mime Reading Rainbow. The airContinue reading “Views from the Train Seat”

The Machine

“We don’t know how close we are to feeling good.” Dr. Hyman By: Gabriela Yareliz Have you ever worked so much you started to feel numb? This is a familiar place for me. Familiar but unpleasant. Work sometimes feels like The Machine from The Princess Bride. (I was in The Machine today. More on thatContinue reading “The Machine”

Antonio

By: Gabriela Yareliz The salon was packed with women ready to go on vacation. Today was the day the Brooklyn housewives decided to make a salon stop to make sure they look absolutely fabulous on their trips. There was perfume everywhere and sparkling jewelry sounding like chimes. In one chair, an elderly woman was itchingContinue reading “Antonio”